Frege's proof of referentiality

Michael D. Resnik

pp. 177-195

in: Leila Haaparanta, Jaakko Hintikka (eds), Frege synthesized, Berlin, Springer, 1986

Abstract

A logically perfect language (Begriffsschrift) should satisfy the conditions, that every expression grammatically well constructed as a proper name out of signs already introduced shall in fact designate an object, and that no new sign shall be introduced as a proper name without being secured a reference. The logic books contain warnings against logical mistakes arising from the ambiguity of expressions. I regard as no less pertinent a warning against apparent proper names having no reference. The history of mathematics supplies errors which have arisen in this way. ([7], p. 41; trns., [10], p. 70)

Cited authors

Frege Gottlob